Barcelona knocks Dutch-tinged Wolfsburg after ‘remontada’ in Champions League final
NOS Football–
Watch the summary of the Champions League final between Barcelona and Wolfsburg
With a veritable “remontada,” Barcelona won the Champions League final in Eindhoven. A 0-2 deficit at halftime against VfL Wolfsburg was turned into a 3-2 win.
In a sold-out Philips Stadion, Wolfsburg defender Lynn Wilms made the crucial mistake in the third Spanish goal. Orange internationals Jill Roord and Dominique Janssen were also in the starting lineup at Wolfsburg.
Barcelona was the big favorite beforehand, having lost only five games since August 2021. The Spanish team won the Champions League for the second time, as many times as Wolfsburg did in the past. Olympique Lyon is the record holder with eight final wins.
Pajor and Popp score for Wolfsburg
Barcelona had most of the ball possession and chances, but initially defended less well than the German team. After only three minutes, Lucy Bronze delivered the ball in the build-up just like that to Ewa Pajor.
The Polish striker lashed out from 20 yards and shot beautifully via the fingertips of goalkeeper Sandra Paños. It was Pajor’s ninth Champions League goal this season, making her top scorer by far.
Barcelona had great chances through Irene Paredes (free header just wide) and Caroline Hansen (mis-hit the ball three yards from goal), before Wolfsburg struck again after 37 minutes.
This time Pajor was the caster and Alexandra Popp headed in. That the German striker – already playing her seventh Champions League final – pulled defender Maria Leon to the ground earlier in the attack was no reason for the referee and VAR to disallow the goal.
Happy and disappointed soccer fans after thrilling CL final women in Eindhoven
In the injury time of the first half, striker Salma Paralluelo missed another great chance for Barcelona. It was the fifteenth goal attempt for the Spanish formation, compared to three attempts for the much more efficient Wolfsburg.
Twice Guijarro
In the second half, it was two hits for Barcelona within five minutes. After good preparatory work by Hansen, Patricia Guijarro shot the ball behind Wolfsburg goalkeeper Merle Frohms. Soon after, the Spanish midfielder scored again. From a high cross from Aitana Bonmati, she headed the ball in.
The comeback had clearly cost Barcelona a lot of strength, because after the equalizer, Wolfsburg took control. The German team had several shooting chances, but Pajor in particular did not have his sights set.
Twenty minutes before time, however, the decision fell on the other side, after a mistake by Wilms. The Dutch right back popped the ball into his own penalty area against teammate Kathrin Hendrich. In the chaos that followed, Sweden’s Fridolina Rolfö was finally able to shoot the ball in.
In the ninth minute of ample injury time, Wolfsburg goalkeeper Frohms still went forward. Substitute Pauline Bremer was able to head, but thanks to Paños’ save, an extension remained out.
Watch reactions from Fridolina Rolfö, who scored the winning goal, and Wolfsburg coach Tommy Troost below:
